Chapter 29: The Healer Concludes the Raid
Whoosh—!!
I thrust my hand out swiftly. The natural motion conjured a golden barrier. The spears hurled by the orcs clattered harmlessly to the ground right in front of the hunters.
"…Wow. Thank you."
The group waved, relief washing over their faces. They unleashed their own skills, dispatching the orcs.
"Buhiik?! Buhiik!!"
A few orcs pointed at me furiously. I could see stones and arrows flying up from below. Dodging with familiar wingbeats, I sent green light toward the injured hunters.
"Just a bit more, hang in there."
"…Yes!!"
The Maxus members nodding vigorously into the air were adorable. Come to think of it, they said it was all women.
Soon, I spotted the orc chieftain swinging his hammer. His massive bulk made him easy to pick out.
Boom—! Bang!!
Lee Se-ah's Dark Eagle Dagger embedded itself in the orc chieftain's body. Small explosions erupted with a thud, but it only left minor scratches—no real damage.
"…Human. Buhiik, I'll offer you as a sacrifice. Buhiik!!"
"Gross. Pig."
The orc chieftain swung his massive hammer again. Lee Se-ah nimbly retreated, spraying Poison Mist. Fortunately, it seemed to hit hard; he staggered.
Holy Faith
Purple orbs formed and zipped toward the guild members around me. Like giant fireflies swirling in circles, they seeped into everyone. Kim Na-yoon, who had been thrusting her spear into an orc's gut with weary movements, brightened up. She leaped lightly and swung her spear. A powerful dragon-shaped shockwave blasted out.
And not just that.
Flames enveloped the arrow Yoo Chae-eun had nocked. A layer of purple aura coated the fire.
Taat—!!
A smile already played on her lips. This was probably the strongest attack she'd ever unleashed. The scorching, brilliant fire arrow whistled through the air, striking the orc chieftain's chest dead-on.
He flailed desperately to block with his massive hammer, but the iron melted into ash.
"Buhiik?! This can't be. It can't!! Buhiik! Why!! He must come!!"
The chieftain's frantic roar made my ears ring. The burning behemoth knelt, bowing its body. As Jeong Ye-na activated her skill, icicles rained from the sky. Tinged with faint purple, the ice shattered the orcs' thick skulls.
The remaining monsters fell quickly to the hunters. A crisp, clean sweep.
"…Is it over now?"
Ah, I shouldn't have said that. I accidentally raised a flag without thinking.
"Buhiik, you—you're the enemy of 'Him'!! Buhiik!! I'll take you no matter what. Buhiik!!"
The orc chieftain grabbed a spear from the ground with his last strength. In our moment of laxness, he hurled it upward with deadly force. Too late to block with a light shield now.
Looking fulfilled in completing his final mission, the chieftain collapsed, breathing his last. His green skin had turned into a charred black corpse from burns.
Clang—!! Thud!!
Instinctively, my wings wrapped around me protectively as I plummeted. But it didn't hurt at all. It felt cozy, like flopping onto a bed.
"Nooo. Oppa!!!"
Like déjà vu, a familiar woman's cry rang out.
The wings vanished the moment I touched down, as if their job was done. Opening my eyes, I saw Kang Ga-young—light brown hair plastered to her forehead, her armor splattered with blood.
"…Huh?"
I'd expected Yoo Chae-eun or Jeong Ye-na. This was completely unexpected.
Kang Ga-young could boldly claim the title of Asia's most beautiful woman. But right now, her face was a total mess. Her noble, elegant features were etched with exhaustion and fatigue. Ironically, the dark circles under her eyes lent a decadent, sensual air.
"…O-op. Seojun-ssi, no, no blood. On your head. Haa. Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness. If I had…."
Kang Ga-young's fingers gripped my arms tightly. In the past, the strength difference would've hurt, but now, same rank maybe? It didn't faze me.
"Hunter Kang Ga-young, what are you doing right now?!"
Yoo Chae-eun rushed over, prying her arms away. Her glare at Kang Ga-young was cold enough to startle even me. Like a mother protecting her young, she shoved me behind her in an instant.
"Move!! I—I!!"
"I know Hunter Kang Ga-young tried to recruit Seojun-ssi. But leaving your post in a crisis, barging in, and touching our guild member—what were you thinking? Especially someone who might be injured?!"
Yoo Chae-eun's bobbed hair swayed in the wind. The air turned tense at her words.
Wait, thinking about it, hadn't I ditched on my own too? I got a bit scared.
"…Seojun-ssi? Who do you think you're talking to?!"
"Who else? As a fellow guild member. Please, I'm begging you—stop hovering around someone else's guild."
Yoo Chae-eun's voice was firm. Her sharp, icy demeanor made listeners uneasy.
Tap tap—!
Someone poked my back from behind. It was Lee Soo-jung, reclaiming her hat and robe.
"That woman's got a weird look in her eyes. Not like she's just helping. Wanna stick with me for now?"
I stared blankly down at her, and she flushed, mumbling about what I was looking at. Her delicate, reed-thin fingers tugged my collar, leading me along. No real force, but hard to refuse. I followed.
Glancing back, Yoo Chae-eun finished her warning and hurried after us.
"Wait. Haa. Hunter Lee Seojun, really, I'm so sorry, but could we talk just for a moment?"
Her voice choked with emotion. I hesitated—should I agree? Glancing at Yoo Chae-eun, she looked even more anxious.
"…Sorry, Hunter Kang Ga-young. That won't work."
Just cutting ties might be best for everyone.
"Ga-young unnie, get up already. Look at you right now…."
Jeong Ye-na, who had rushed over, helped the slumped woman to her feet. Shaking off the awkwardness, we exited the raid dungeon.
Monster byproducts were the porters' job, so no tough duties for me. As the raid wrapped, reporters swarmed with questions—Yoo Jae-hyun handled them. Maxus's guild master stood beside him.
Cheonsu Guild had quietly left due to health issues, apparently. Oh yeah, that kid from the prison was Cheonsu too. Whatever.
"Rumors say Hunter Yoo Jae-hyun has awakened—is it true? Can we hear the details?"
"Yes. It's because an angel saved me. They probably don't want it publicized, so I'll just say it's a miracle."
When does this end? 'Angel'? Way too cringy. Bro, staring at me right after mentioning angel—how's that secret?
"Ah, I see. Then, about the dungeon?"
"We subjugated the orc chieftain in this raid dungeon. The issue is we found a site set up for some ritual."
Right, the chieftain kept yapping about 'Him.' Probably that sorcery spot.
"…Orcs? What kind of ritual?!"
Whispers rippled through the reporters and crowd. Orcs were known for raping men, but among women, they had a rep as monsters kidnapping boyfriends.
"Not sure, but it needs thorough investigation."
After Yoo Jae-hyun's statement, the mic went to Maxus's guild master. In her disheveled armor, she smiled faintly as she took it. No surprises—expected questions, standard answers.
"Alright, time to head back? Oh, Seojun, bro's got something to say."
"…Sure."
Yoo Jae-hyun stepped down, face stern. Fresh from the hospital, he was already bulked up. He pulled me to a secluded spot.
Even if he punched me, Heal would fix it, but still….
"You punk!! Know how worried I was?!"
"…Sorry."
"Apologize to my sister, not me. She suffered the most…."
I see. What do you say to that?
"And thanks to Soo-jung for saving you. But no more solo acts, got it?"
Yoo Jae-hyun chuckled, patting my shoulder. We rejoined the guild members.
Time to go.
"Great work. Safe travels."
"Hunter Lee Seojun, thanks for the heals. Any scouting—eek! Never mind."
We bowed farewell to Maxus. As a hunter, finishing this raid felt damn satisfying.
"Um…."
Lee Soo-jung brushed her red hair back, approaching. Like before, she tugged my collar lightly.
"I gotta pee. Mind walking me up ahead? If you hate it, fine, but then I'd have to hold it."
Why ask me?
Looking around, Yoo Chae-eun and Kim Na-yoon were chatting with Maxus women. Guess she doesn't know anyone special. Felt a kinship.
Sure, why not. Girls go to the bathroom together anyway.
Luckily, a restroom was inside the nearby building, off the hall. Lee Soo-jung finally released my collar.
"…Thanks."
"No problem."
For finding a bathroom?
"Not that. Everything today. Without you, I'd definitely be 'sacrifice' fodder."
Her red robe trembled. But her eyes were clear and bright.
"…The chocolate bar was good too."
Before I could reply, she ducked into the restroom. Music faintly played, then she emerged with a damp face.
"…Let's go."
Outside, guild members scanned around. I waved; Kim Na-yoon beside Ma Pildu eyed us oddly.
"Hahat!! Kid, why'd you come out from there?!!"
"…Bathroom break."
I beat Lee Soo-jung to it. Yoo Jae-hyun asked about next plans.
"Hey, Soo-jung and Seojun must be hungry? You were trapped, no food."
"Heading straight to a restaurant."
I eyed Lee Soo-jung—you? No gestures.
"Then Seojun-ssi, come to our place?! Was gonna invite you. No chance till now. It's closer than your place anyway. Shower too."
Sudden invite threw me. I froze.
She said our place, right?
"Ow! Why hit me?"
"Sis, not like that. Say it right."
Yoo Chae-eun rubbed her head, frowning. But replaying Yoo Jae-hyun's words, her face flushed fast.
"Ack! Not that—Seojun-ssi, I meant the Pania Guild House. We all live there. Your room's freshly renovated too. Come with."
Totally unexpected. Vaguely recall hearing it before.
"…Surprise~?! Guild house is handy when busy."
"Right. Just bring yourself, Seojun-ssi."
Yoo Jae-hyun shrugged. Vehicles waited in the parking lot. We piled in quickly.